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The application period will run from Sept. 23 – Dec. 6, 2024 at 1 p.m. EST.

Program Overview

The Women’s Health Innovation Grants are part of the MLSC’s Women’s Health Initiative. The grants focus on projects with translational potential and preliminary supporting data, but still require a key set of proof-of-concept experiments prior to attracting a commercial partner or spinning out into a new company. Projects could include hiring a postdoc to perform research, working with a CRO, entering into a sponsored research agreement, etc.

Application Process

September 2024
December 2024
December 2024
March 2025
May 2025
July 2025
Application Period Begins
Application
Due
External Review Period Begin
Review Period
Ends
Award
Notification
Project
Begins

Upcoming Info Sessions

Eligibility and Requirements

An eligible applicant must be a full or part-time employee at a Massachusetts-based research institution proposing as a Principal Investigator a project focused on increasing our understanding of sex and gender differences in biology (that has translational potential) or developing solutions for diseases or conditions that affect women solely, disproportionately, or differently. Funding must be used to support an experiment or experiments that increase(s) the translational opportunity for the technology with a defined goal such as filing patents, securing sponsored research agreement, attracting other industry support, etc. To evaluate applications, an external panel of scientists from academia and industry with expertise in women’s health and translating early-stage innovations will review applications with an eye towards their value to our understanding of women’s health, the unmet need they are addressing, and the proposed solution, among other criteria.

Please note that the submission system only allows one active application per grant program at a time for each user account. It is possible to have an active application across multiple programs, as well as submit applications for the same program sequentially.

Program Resources

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Impact on the Ecosystem

Massachusetts recognizes there has been a lack of development in novel solutions to treat conditions that solely or disproportionately affect women or have a different presentation between genders. This impacts not only patients, but also employers and the healthcare system. The consequences are profound, with women more likely to have adverse drug reactions than men, and the lack of effective therapies results in reduced quality of life. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center aims to support and incentivize translational project teams developing novel solutions in this area of need.

Learn more about the 20212023, and 2024 Women’s Health Innovation awardees, including the principal investigator and the innovative projects.

$ 0 M
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invested by the MLSC

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filed patents

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investigators supported

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Employment

follow-on funding received

Connect with us to learn more

If you have questions regarding the application process, e-mail WomensHealth@masslifesciences.com with Innovation Grant in the subject line.

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